When I bake, buckwheat flour and tiger nut flour are my go-to gluten-free flours. Because I have Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity (NCGS) and hypothyroidism, I stopped eating wheat and gluten-containing grains (oats, barley, spelt, rye) about seven years ago. Since then, many symptoms of digestive distress that I once assumed were “normal” have disappeared. Do I […]
Tiger Nut-Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Ganache
The last time I attempted to bake a gluten-free, dairy-free birthday cake was 6 years ago. I decided to try again. I wanted to make a chocolate layer cake to celebrate my birthday—as well as my sister’s recent significant birthday. One of the most effective ways that I manage my Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, an autoimmune thyroid […]
Boozy Pumpkin-Ginger Pie with Buckwheat Crust
It’s funny where a healing journey can take you. Before I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s, flour-based treats—muffins, scones, pancakes, giant chocolate chip cookies from a nearby artisanal bakery or a wedge of chocolate layer cake with chocolate buttercream frosting—were part of my everyday life. I was also a talented baker with a natural “feel” for […]
Slow Burn Buckwheat Gingerbread Brownies
Do you enjoy a slow burn? Then you’ll love these gingerbread brownies! (And, no, you won’t be rating Scoville heat units…there are no chili peppers in these brownies!) Moist and flavorful, a combination of gently warming spices (including fresh ginger root) natural sweeteners and buckwheat flour, makes these brownies a delicious, warming treat (and digestive aid!) […]
No-Guilt Flourless Chocolate Cake
Nothing says “love” like a flourless chocolate cake. Especially when it’s homemade. A flourless chocolate cake is decadent. It’s a delectable way to enjoy a combination of healthy fats: pasture-raised eggs, grass-fed butter, dark chocolate and cocoa powder (ideally, unsweetened and 100% cocoa)—all gently sweetened with maple syrup. You can use 1/2 cup raw honey […]
Show Me the Love! Ultra-Dark Chocolate Sweet Potato Brownies
Want to show your love? Give me chocolate—the darker, the better (I like 85% cocoa content or higher). Or…you could make these brownies! Why does chocolate = love? We have to credit the Mayans for creating this symbolic connection. In the 7th century, the Mayans migrated from Guatemala to the Yucatan peninsula, where they established […]
Oven-roasted Kabocha Squash “Fries”
I could prattle on about the many virtues of Kabocha squash, also known as Japanese pumpkin. In addition to sharing my kabocha squash fries recipe (see below), I’ll give you the cliff notes version on why kabocha is my favorite winter squash… Its flesh, which has a deep orange color and a dense, creamy and […]
Baked Pumpkin-Ginger Custard
I love pie. A few years ago, I even won a red ribbon at a local, upstate apple pie baking contest for both my filling and my pie crust. That was then. Since being diagnosed with low thyroid in 2013, I have followed a strict wheat-free, gluten-free Paleo diet. This has been a good thing […]
Strawberry Love
This Valentine’s Day…show your beloved some strawberry love. Red and heart-shaped, the strawberry could be considered the perfect fruit for Valentine’s Day because it actually does help protect the heart. (And a healthy cardiovascular system is key for sexual arousal and responsiveness.) Anthocyanin, a phenol in strawberries, is what gives strawberries their distinct red color; […]
Gluten-Free Vanilla Cupcakes with Chocolate Frosting
Making healthy shifts—especially when it comes to sweet treats that give you pleasure—is key to making healthy eating deliciously sustainable. I know it was for me… Take these delicious Paleo vanilla cupcakes with chocolate frosting, for example. (By the way, this classic “yellow cake-chocolate frosting” combo was a winner with everyone who sampled them!) Before […]